Early voting starts for Dist. 71 seat

Sun, 01/27/2013 - 1:39pmJohn Munford

The race is now officially on for the vacant District 71 seat in the Georgia House of Representatives.

The district encompasses much of east Coweta County and two small areas in northwest Peachtree City. Although Coweta resident Robert Stokely won election last year, he withdrew from the position in December after being offered a full-time job in Coweta Magistrate Court.

Six candidates have thrown their hat in the ring in hopes of winning the seat outright. Because of the crowded field a runoff election is likely and would be held on March 5, near the end of the 2013 legislative session.

Coweta voters wishing to vote early will be able to cast their ballot today (Saturday) at the elections office at 22 East Broad Street in Newnan and also on weekdays between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Early voting in Coweta will end Feb. 1.

Early Peachtree City voters will be able to vote Monday through Friday either at the Peachtree City Library or the Fayette County elections office in downtown Fayetteville. Both locations will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

On the date of the special election, Tuesday, Feb. 5, voters will have to appear in person to cast a ballot at their local voting precinct between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Because the district’s footprint in Peachtree City is so small, there will only be two polling locations open for the election: Precinct 18 at Peachtree City Christian Church and Precinct 31 at the Kedron Fieldhouse and Aquatic Center.